Larry's
Toon Institute

BASIC HEAD CONSTRUCTION Part 1

STEP 1

Character Design for the Head
is very simple. Like all character design is it based on simplified anatomy and
construction. All characters can be broken down into basic 3D shapes or forms.

We will design our basic head using a ball. Remember - think 3D forms.

STEP 2

Once
we have the ball. We draw an
eyeline (a) horizontally around the ball. Then, draw a line vertically, (b)
the centerline, perpendicular to the eyeline.

STEP 3

The
bottom of the eyes are
anchored to the eyeline (a). The top of the nose is anchored below the
eyeline.

The eyelines show the up and down and tilt directions of the
head.

HINT: Due to perspective the eye closer is larger than
the eye farthest from us.

The centerline shows us the left and right direction the ball (or character) is
facing.

STEP 4

Add the pupils and the mouth
and bottom lip. Bottom lips are very important to expressions and dialog.

HINT: The mouth is drawn slightly to one side - it keeps the design
assymetrical and it makes the character more appealing.

The pupils are always drawn as complete shapes (4a) - and not as cutouts
(4b).

Add the ears (4c)...for human characters they generally begin at the
eyeline.

Find the crown of the head at the back and draw the hair forward from there.

HINT: Think of it as covering the ball shape of the head.

Continue to cover the sides of head (ball) and you have the basic head
construction.

STEP 5

When drawing eyes
begin with the pupil and let the eye shape and the eye brow
radiate from it.

STEP 6

Using the same principles of
a simple head design, let's create other characters.

Again, draw a ball, then,
draw the eyeline and the centerline. Remember, these lines ALWAYS
curve around the ball. In fact, draw 2 or 3 balls with eyelines and
centerlines.

Now add the eyes (anchored above the eyelines) and forms for snouts or muzzles below
the eyelines.

HINT: Part of designing characters is play so play with different forms
(3D shapes).

STEP 7

Okay, one more time... draw a ball
with the eyeline and centerline (7a).

Draw the eyes above... and the snout below...(7b).

Note in drawing (7c), the bottom of the snout or muzzle is the top of the animal's
mouth. Also, when the character has REALLY large eyes, you can draw brows above
the eyes. These brows parallel the eye shape.

SUMMARY

Like all character design, the head is based on anatomy

Use forms (such as a ball) as a basis of your design

Use eyelines to anchor the eyes, snout (and human ears)

Eyelines show the direction - up and down or even a tilt

Centerlines show the direction the character is facing (left and right)

The pupils are complete shapes.

Human ears begin at the eyeline.

The hair covers the ball of the head and begins at the crown and comes forward.